DigiTimes is reporting that retail sources are claiming that the Asus Eee PC 1004DN (or E1004DN) is going to be launched by Asustek sometime towards the middle of next month (April 2009).
It will be the first Eee PC to launch with an internal/built-in DVD drive (or Optical Disk Drive – ODD). It was announced back in January.
The 10.2″ ultraportable was originally thought to be shipping with an Intel Atom N270, but since then, a drop-in lower power upgrade, the N280, has become available. DigiTimes reports that the N280 will be coupled with an Intel GN40 chipset, along with a 120GB HDD, and a price of $531 – $590 USD. Availability in North America is unknown – initially it was thought that it wouldn’t be available outside of Asia and possible Europe.
The same sources report that the Eee PC 1008HA, aka the “Shell”, Asustek’s thinnest netbook, will be available sometime in May.
Read: DigiTimes